Janata Dal (S) to fight ally Congress in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The Janata Dal (S), which shares power with the Congress in Karnataka, will contest against its southern ally in the Rajasthan assembly elections. HD Deve Gowda’s party has formed a United Democratic Front (UDF) with five others — Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPM, CP(ML) and MCPIU — to take on the might of the BJP and Congress in the desert state.

The most prominent among the small parties in Rajasthan, Mayawati’s BSP, is not part of the alliance. The BSP got 3.44% of the votes in the last assembly elections, with two of its candidates getting elected. Other parties like the NPP and INLD have not opened their cards yet.

“All six parties are meeting on Saturday in Jaipur to discuss future course of action. Our national president HD Deve Gowda is likely to participate in this discussion along with national leaders of the SP and other parties,” JD(S) Rajasthan president Arjun Detha said.


Amara Ram, a former four-time MLA of the CPM, told ET that the front would field candidates on all 200 seats.

“The BJP and Congress, both are damaging the state turn by turn. We are talking with other like-minded players to strengthen our position as the United Opposition,” he said.

Former BJP MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari, who has just left the BJP over differences with chief minister Vasundhara Raje, has formed his own political outfit, the Bharat Vahini Sena. He is also looking to stitch a third front, joining forces of splinter groups.

“We are open to combine with any front as far as it suits our ideology. We may join UDF if things move in right direction,” Tiwari said.